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Theresa May makes Manifesto Commitment on adult social care

The Prime Minister, Theresa May, has confirmed further details on the Conservatives’ long-term plan for elderly care.

Speaking at the launch of the Party’s Welsh Manifesto, the Prime Minister said: “My manifesto is honest and upfront about our challenges. It includes plans to strengthen the social care system with more and sustainable funding to cope with the long-term pressures caused by the fact that we are an ageing society.

“Jeremy Corbyn wants to duck this reality – and play politics. But there will be two million more people over 75 years old in Britain over the next decade alone. Our social care system will collapse unless we make some important decisions now about how we fund it.

“That is why we have to act. And it is why – to give people security – we included in our plans measures to make sure nobody has to sell the family home to pay for care.

“And we also said that we would protect £100,000 of your savings so, however expensive your care, you can pass something on to your family.

"Let’s be clear. This plan replaces the existing system where people often get poor quality care – and stand to lose almost all their savings and assets, including the family home. This plan addresses the worry people have when they have a loved one with a long-term condition, and they don’t know how they’re going to afford to care for them.

“So these are good and sensible plans. They provide the beginning of a solution to social care without increasing taxes on younger generations. And, I should say, we are the only party in this election prepared to face up to the reality of our ageing society and offer a long-term solution.

“But since my manifesto was published, the proposals have been subject to fake claims made by Jeremy Corbyn. The only things he has left to offer in this campaign are fake claims, fear and scaremongering.

“So I want to make a further point clear. This manifesto says that we will come forward with a consultation paper, a government green paper. And that consultation will include an absolute limit on the amount people have to pay for their care costs.

“So let me reiterate. We are proposing the right funding model for social care. We will make sure nobody has to sell their family home to pay for care. We will make sure there’s an absolute limit on what people need to pay. And you will never have to go below £100,000 of your savings, so you will always have something to pass on to your family.

“And what is Jeremy Corbyn’s plan? He promises a nonsensical, fantasy policy that can only be funded through massive tax rises on younger generations. In fact, just recently he threatened to increase the basic rate of income tax for millions of people from 20 to 25 per cent to fund social care. That tells you everything you need to know about Jeremy Corbyn’s answer to the problem.

“The alternative is that he sticks to the status quo, which too often provides poor care and leaves old and vulnerable people having to sell their family homes.”

This means that if Theresa May is re-elected as Prime Minister, the Conservatives’ plan will include an absolute limit on the amount people have to pay for care costs.

And here are some other points to keep on making about our long-term plan for elderly care:

We will make sure nobody has to sell their family home to pay for care.

You will never have to go below £100,000 of your assets, so you will always have something to pass on to your family.

The poorest pensioners will continue to receive winter fuel payments.

Compare that to Jeremy Corbyn who wants to drag 3.9 million more homes, including half of all homes in London, into paying inheritance tax. And he’s also talked about raising the basic rate of income tax to 25p to fund his ideas for elderly care.